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W. H. ATKINSON. SHEET METAL BOX.

No. 459,697. Patented Sept. 15, 1891-.

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- W. H. ATKINSON.

SHEET METAL BOX.

l/VILLIAH l-I. ATKINSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DANIEL M. SOMERS, JOSEPH L. SOMERS, GUY A. SOMERS, WILLIAM H. ATKINSON, AND ELMER E. SOMERS, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET-METAL BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,697, dated September 15, 1891. 3 T

Application filed May 7, 1891. Serial No. 391,862. (No model.)

T aZZ whom, it nury concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. ATKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Boxes, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

[0 The object of the invention is to provide a sheet-metal box which shall be simpler and cheaper in construction than those heretofore in use and the parts of which shall be held together by seams so constructed as to be of I 5 great strength and to form smooth surfaces on both the inside and outside of the box.

To this end the invention consists in the improved box, as fully described in the follow ing specification and set forth in the claims.

For a full understanding of my invention a detailed description of the different steps in the construction of a box embodying the same will now be given,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- 2 5 s Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank forming the bottom and two sides of the box. Fig. 2 is a plan of the blank forming one of the ends. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box as formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 before the attachment of the ends. Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the ends previous to attachment. Fig. '5 is a horizontal section showing the ends in place previous to closing the seam. Fig. 6 is a similar section on the 5 line 6 6 of Fig. '7, showing the completed box with seams closed. Fig. '7 is a vertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to said drawings, A is the blank from which the bottom and two sides of the 40 box are formed,and B one of the blanks from which the ends are formed. The blank A is cut away at the corners 1 and notched at 2 opposite the fold-lines 0., upon which the blank is bent to form the sides. In the construction of the box the side edges of this blank'are first bent inward on the fold-lines b and then outward on the fold-lines 0, so as to form inwardly-extendin g flanges 3 and outwardly-ex tending flanges at, as shown in Fig. 3, and the blank is then bent on the fold-lines a into the form shown in that figure, the box being complete with the exception of the ends. As shown, the blank is folded or doubled upon the lines cl to forms beads 5 for greater strength and to form a smooth edge; but it will be understood that this feature is not essential. If the box is to be provided with a hinged cover, the bead maybe used to form one member of the hinge, if desired, in the usual manner. The blank B for each end is cut away at the upper and lower corners 6 7, respectively, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and is then folded on three sides on the line 6 to form lockingflanges 8,which are adapted to interlock with the flanges 4c in the formation of the seam, these flanges being upon the bottom and two side edges of the end when thelatter is in place in the box. Abead 9 is preferably formed upon the end also by doubling or folding upon the line g. The blanksA B having been brought into the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, respect ively, the end blanks B are placed in position upon the ends of the open box formed from the blank A, the locking -flanges 8 on the three edges of the ends interlocking with the flanges 4: on the bottom and sides of the box, as shown clearlyin Fig. 5. These blanks ma be placed in position either by inserting the locking-fianges B within the flanges 4: from below the bottom and sliding the blanks into position or by springing the sides slightly, so as to allow the flanges on the ends to be passed over them. The parts are then ready for closing the seams, which is the final step in the formation of the box. This will preferably 85 be done by means of dies placed inside and outside of the flanges, by which they are pressed together, so as to form closed scams, uniting the ends to the bottom and sides of the box, substantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

It will be seen that my invention provides a very simple and cheap method of making a box. The box, moreover, is of great strength and a smooth surface on the outside of the 9 5' box is formed by all seams, while the surface of the seams on the inside of the box is rounded so as to form practically a smooth surface, no edges being exposed.

While I have shown the double flanges as mo formed upon the body-blank and the single locking-flanges upon the end blanks, and I prefer this construction, as the double flanges will thus be formed on but a single piece, it will be understood that the location of these flanges may be reversed, if desired. It will be understood that the sides and ends of the box may be of any desired relative size, and the term ends is used to designate the two sides formed from separate blanks only for convenience in description. If a box open on two sides be desired, one of the end pieces may be omitted, in which case but one of the two side edges of the body-blank will be bent to form flanges.

What I claim is- 1. A sheet-metal box having its bottom and sides formed from a single blank and having its ends secured to the sides and bottom by 20 seams formed of inwardly-extending flanges '3 and outwardly-extending flanges 4 on one of the members and inwardly-extending locking-flanges 8 on the other member, the flanges 8 interlocking with the flanges 4 to form the seams, substantially as described.

2. A sheet-metal box having its bottom and sides formed from a single blank and having its ends secured to its sides and bottom by seams formed of inwardly-extending flanges 3 and outwardly-extending flanges 4 on the sides and bottom and locking-flanges 8 on the ends,tl1e flanges 8 interlockingwith the flanges 4 to form the seams, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM II. ATKINSON. lVitnesses:

II. G. MAcNUs, OSCAR M. BERRY. 

